DSST News

DSST is proud that our schools comprise 4 of the top 5 middle schools in Denver and 5 of the 8 top high schools in the city on Denver's school performance framework. This continues a remarkable 13 year track record of consistently running the best secondary schools in Denver. DSST ran 4 of the top 5 middle schools in Denver and 5 of the top 8 high schools in Denver. In other words, DSST schools represent 9 of the top 15 secondary schools in DPS.

Congratulations to our outstanding students, families, and staff who work day in and day out to create communities of academic excellence, creativity and belonging!

DSST: Green Valley Ranch was named the state’s Top Transformational High School at the inaugural Colorado Succeeds Prize awards, capping off the campus’ strong 2016-2017 school year.

The awards ceremony was hosted by Colorado Succeeds, which was created by educational and business leaders whose mission it is to find, recognize, and reward schools and educators who have a transformative impact for their students.

“Our entire school community has worked tirelessly and relentlessly to support the success of all of our students,” said School Director Jenna Kalin. “We are truly honored to receive the Succeeds Prize award for Transformational Impact in a High School, and we are grateful for the opportunity to build on this success even further through future professional development and learning opportunities made possible through this initiative.” The honors also include a $15,000 grant to help continue to their innovative work.

DSST: Byers also was nominated for the Excellence in STEM Education award, and DSST: Cole’s Maggie Dering was a finalist for the Innovation Prize for creating a website that helps students find and apply for summer enrichment plans.

“I am so proud of the DSST: Green Valley Ranch and DSST: Byers teams, as well as Maggie, for living our Core Values and rising to excellence every day,” said CEO Bill Kurtz. “The fact DSST had finalists in three categories is a testament to the great work we’re doing across the network.”

The Succeeds Prize was created to honor “the transformational impact Colorado’s public schools and educators are leading across the state. It also serves as a year-long campaign to implement and scale successful innovations and best practices so that every student in Colorado can benefit.” The Colorado Succeeds organization was created by educational and business leaders whose mission it is to find, recognize, and reward schools and educators who have a transformative impact for their students. Additionally, the organization is looking for and spread best practices which will benefit students across the state.

"At DSST, when I walk into this building, I feel at home.”Roxana, DSST: Byers Class of 2020

As we look forward to the year ahead, we know our students will amaze us. Students like Roxana, who plans to become an astrophysicist at NASA, inspire us to give our best in service of their dreams every single day.

WATCH as Roxana shares her hopes for the future, and how the DSST community is helping her get there.

Of course, like Roxana, we’re not just thinking about the year ahead, but to the future. We are thinking about how to ensure our students find happiness and success in every part of life. We know that to prepare Roxana and each one of our kids for the world ahead, they need so much more than rigorous, college-prep academics. They need strength of character, confidence, and the ability to see themselves for who they uniquely are and to see themselves as leaders of the future. I think the importance of DSST's educational communities is highlighted well in this week's article in The 74: 10, Years, 100% College Acceptance: Inside a Most Remarkable Decade at the Denver School of Science & Technology.

Now more than ever, we want our schools to be places that foster a sense of belonging for each one of our kids. In celebration of the one-of-kind DSST community that we build, we’re turning the spotlight on amazing student, teacher and parent leaders. Over the next few weeks, we hope you’ll join us as we share a brief series of videos and some helpful resources that underscore the power that our schools have to bring out the best in all students. Look for the tag #BelongAndBeYourself, and join the conversation.

Thank you for all that you do for students like Roxana, and so many more, every day

The 74, a non-profit, non-partisan news site that covers education in America, recently published "10 Years, 100% College Acceptance: Inside a Most Remarkable Decade at the Denver School of Science & Technology," highlighting DSST's strong record of academic success.

Taking a deep dive into DSST's focus on the whole child, the 74 explored aspects of our culture that makes our community uniquely strong, supportive, and academically successfull. From "celebrating our students like athletes" at Senior Signing Day to our fierce belief in our core values, the 74 shined light on DSST's belief that a culture of support is just as important as rigorous STEM academics.

At DSST, we will stand by our students, staff and community members who are DACA recipients and strongly condemn the plan to end DACA. We will be holding facebook live events this fall where we will have an immigration lawyer and policy experts available to answer any questions you may have about changes to this program. This will be an opportunity for you to hear practical steps you can take and to get connected to helpful resources. Stay tuned for specific dates.